Overview
Playa de los Caballos sits in a crescent-shaped, cliff-lined bay that hides one of Cantabria's best breaks, no small claim in one of the most wave-rich corners of the European coastline. A finger of reef angles out into the Bay of Biscay, and the sudden change in depth channels swell into a quality lefthander that feathers, then fires into a barreling left that can run over a hundred meters through to the inside. The wave breaks over a mix of reef and sand.
When It Works
Autumn is the season here, with September through November the prime window. The reef picks up swell from west-northwest to north (WNW-N) and works from 0.6 m / 2 ft to 1.8 m / 6 ft, roughly knee high to slightly overhead. Once it gets over six feet there is a lot of water moving around the bay, and rips can start to affect the wave quality.
Wind and Tide
Look for a south-southeast (SSE) offshore, with a workable wind window from southeast to south (SE-S). Low to mid tide is the call, and a rising tide is generally better.
Local Tips
This is a shortboard wave that suits intermediate surfers. Expect a busy lineup, especially on weekends, so an early arrival pays dividends. The atmosphere in the water is generally neutral, though the spot used to be localized, and humility and respect go a long way. Paddling out can be a workout when it's pumping, especially when you're trying to get under a cleanup set, and the main hazard is bouncing off the bottom. Water quality is not bad on average, with some runoff after rain.
Access
Getting there is simple: take the road to Playa de Cuchia and bear right. Car crime has been a problem here in the past.
